grizzlym
Premium Platinum
So, been musing with the ol' man via email about Lethal. And generally what a great player he was. The best. And we all have a whinge about players who were stiff. Or deserved better. Or those who lucked out against worthier opponents.
So how about this - Lethal was equal fourth in the Brownlow in 1977. He polled 34 votes, 25 votes behind the winner, Graham Teasdale.
But check out Leigh's season:
In 1977 Leigh Matthews went from being from one of best players in league to one of best of all time, with what was among the greatest individual seasons by any player in history. Matthews posted career highs in kicks, marks, handballs and goals, averaging 27.1 disposals per game and kicking 91 goals at 3.8 per game. He had a career high 41 disposals in round 10 against Melbourne, but the peak of Matthews’ form came during the last eight games of the home and away season, during which he averaged 29.8 disposals and 5.1 goals. He kicked 7 goals and had 30-plus disposals three times in seven weeks and finished the season with another 30 disposals and 6 goals against Essendon in round 22. He won Hawthorn’s best and fairest for the fifth time. Matthews 91 goals that year was a record for goals kicked by a non-full forward, until it was broken in 1990 by Collingwood's Peter Daicos (where Matthews was then coaching).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leigh_Matthews
He averaged almost 30 possessions a week and kicked 91 goals....
You talk about injustice in this world. Imagine that sort of season today.
Anyone recall him playing that year?
So how about this - Lethal was equal fourth in the Brownlow in 1977. He polled 34 votes, 25 votes behind the winner, Graham Teasdale.
But check out Leigh's season:
In 1977 Leigh Matthews went from being from one of best players in league to one of best of all time, with what was among the greatest individual seasons by any player in history. Matthews posted career highs in kicks, marks, handballs and goals, averaging 27.1 disposals per game and kicking 91 goals at 3.8 per game. He had a career high 41 disposals in round 10 against Melbourne, but the peak of Matthews’ form came during the last eight games of the home and away season, during which he averaged 29.8 disposals and 5.1 goals. He kicked 7 goals and had 30-plus disposals three times in seven weeks and finished the season with another 30 disposals and 6 goals against Essendon in round 22. He won Hawthorn’s best and fairest for the fifth time. Matthews 91 goals that year was a record for goals kicked by a non-full forward, until it was broken in 1990 by Collingwood's Peter Daicos (where Matthews was then coaching).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leigh_Matthews
He averaged almost 30 possessions a week and kicked 91 goals....
You talk about injustice in this world. Imagine that sort of season today.
Anyone recall him playing that year?